Eli Cohen Archive to Be Returned to Israel with Syrian Approval

In a stunning development that underscores the enduring legacy of one of Israel’s greatest heroes, Syria’s new leadership approved the return of Eli Cohen’s personal archive to Israel. The decision, quietly coordinated through backchannel diplomacy and reportedly endorsed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, was intended to lower regional tensions and demonstrate goodwill to former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Israel confirmed the recovery of Cohen’s trove of personal belongings, including documents, photos, and intelligence materials, last week. The Mossad announced that the items were retrieved through a covert operation conducted with an undisclosed allied intelligence agency. What wasn’t revealed at the time is that Syria, now led by Sharaa following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, deliberately facilitated the transfer.

According to Syrian officials and individuals familiar with the negotiations, the archive was discovered in a state security building after Assad’s ouster. Recognizing its value to Israel, Sharaa authorized its handover as part of a broader diplomatic effort aimed at de-escalation and building ties with the United States.

Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy who infiltrated the highest ranks of Syria’s government in the 1960s, is still revered in Israel for the intelligence he provided that proved pivotal during the 1967 Six Day War. Captured and executed by the Syrian regime in 1965, Cohen has since become a national legend. Israel has long sought the return of his remains for burial, a wish that may now be closer to fulfillment.

This gesture comes amid a series of confidence-building measures reportedly mediated by the United Arab Emirates. In addition to the Cohen archive, Syria has begun talks to return the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon during the 1980s. Last week, Israel confirmed the return of Zvi Feldman’s remains.

The handover of the archive held for nearly 60 years by Syrian intelligence was hailed by Israeli officials as “an achievement of the highest moral order.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Cohen “the greatest intelligence agent in the annals of the state.”

As Syria attempts to emerge from over a decade of civil war and rebuild its international standing, moves like this signal a potential turning point. In a surprise meeting in Saudi Arabia, former President Trump reportedly encouraged Sharaa to pursue normalization with Israel and offered to lift sanctions further incentivizing such overtures.

While the complexities of Israeli-Syrian relations remain, the return of Eli Cohen’s archive serves as a poignant reminder of history, honor, and the enduring impact of one man’s sacrifice.

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